A bold red sheath dress hung on a hanger from a hook on the wall. The skirt was cut high on one hip and delicate diamond-like stones were sprinkled like stardust along the train.
She floated over, rubbing the satiny fabric between her fingertips.
“Do you like it?” he asked.
“No,” she breathed, smiling over her shoulder at him. “I love it.”
His smile was pleased. “You scared me for a second. Hannah picked it out. I called and asked her for help with a dress for Mags Dumond’s Winter Party. And since red is our color...”
“We have a color?” Yep, she was going to dissolve into a puddle at his feet.
“Guess so. You deserve a dress of your own, Hals. Not a hand-me-down from your sister.”
“Yes, it would be a shame to wear vintage couture Valentino,” she teased.
“Will you be my date?”
“To Mags’s party?” A photo on the internet was one thing, but an intimate party where their families would be in attendance... “Are you sure that’s a good idea? Everyone will be there.”
“Another rule to break. A very public date to one of the biggest gatherings in Beaumont Bay. You’ll be with me and everyone will know it.”
Maybe she hadn’t been wrong about the earth moving beneath them. Clearly, he’d felt it, too. “Are you sure that’s okay with you?”
He pulled her close. “Do you think I would’ve had this dress special made and shipped from Paris, France, if I wasn’t positive I wanted you to be seen with me?”
“This is a very, very good surprise.” She touched his cheek and he lowered his mouth to hers for another kiss. “Much better than skinny-dipping in the freezing lake.”
“Never going to let me live that down, are you?”
“No, I don’t think I will.” Never was a long time, and part of her wanted to ask if he was considering a future with her. Even though she’d just sternly reminded herself they didn’t have one, she wouldn’t deny that part of her wanted it. Every moment they spent together was better than the last.
Could she convince him to leave behind the reasons he had for not settling down? Or had their time together changed his mind already? He’d been enjoying watching her come out of her shell, and she had him to thank for embracing her bolder, more colorful side. They were growing and, to her at least, it looked like they were growing in the same direction.
His phone beeped. He shot her a regretful frown as he reached for it. “That’s my alarm. I have to hop on a call.”
“It’s fine. Really.” It would be best to leave before she said any of the thoughts jumbled up in her head aloud. “Thank you for the dress.”
“You’re welcome.” He plucked the hanger and draped the dress over her arms before kissing her goodbye. “I’ll stop by your place tonight. I’ll help you pick out what to wear under the dress.”
She practically floated out of the building while admiring the gown in her arms. She would be stepping out in style come Saturday. With Gavin. Which, fine, okay, was a little scary, but it was also exciting. Maybe she’d been wrong to think holding back was the answer.
Why not move forward instead?
* * *
Gavin showed up as promised and, as expected, was making out with her on the couch within thirty seconds of him walking through the door. That escalated to kissing in the bedroom, which had escalated to sex. Hallie was learning fantastic sex with him was not a rarity—he was always phenomenal.
“If we keep this up, I’m going to be able to skip a lot more workouts.” Gavin, on his back, one arm thrown over his head, looked like every erotic fantasy she’d never dared having. He was gloriously naked, his rugged masculinity offset by her pale pink sheets.
“You weren’t the only one working up a sweat.” She was proud of her participation in this evening’s sex-a-thon. She’d been on top, riding him for a good long while. She smoothed her hand over his soft chest hair before stroking the growth on his jaw. “Did you always have this?”
“You mean after puberty, I assume?”
“Yes, that’s what I mean. I can’t imagine you with a smooth face. It doesn’t suit you.”
“I don’t know if a smooth face suits me or not, but it does make me look about ten years younger. And in court you don’t want to look any younger. Unless you’re trying to pass as a minor.”
She propped her head on one hand, the other resting on his stomach. “I find it so interesting that you became a lawyer, since you’re the only one in your family.”
“My uncle is a lawyer. Criminal defense.” He rested his hand over hers. “Distant uncle.”
“You have to wonder what kind of family traits are passed on from an uncle who’s a criminal defense lawyer. What did you inherit?”
“Well, he married into the Sutherland family, so I don’t think he counts. Speaking of family, there was a question I wanted to ask you.”
She liked hearing he’d been thinking of her. Knowing she’d been on his mind when they weren’t together like he was on hers most of the time. “You have my attention.”
“How many sets of twins are in your family?”
“Several, actually. My cousins are twin boys, identical. And my grandmother and my great-aunt are identical twins.”
“Not Eleanor,” he guessed correctly.
“No. This would be my dad’s mom. Oh, and I think there was a recent set of fraternal twins born on his side, as well, but I haven’t met them.”
“A lot of twins.”
“Our parents knew to stop at one set. You’re from a fairly large family. Four children isn’t a small number. And your mom didn’t do two in one go the way my mom did. She had you one at a time.”
“The old-fashioned way,” he joked, and she smiled.
“How many kids do you want to have?”
“No, no, no.” He shook his head.
“I assume by that answer the number is zero?”
“I have no plans to settle down. A family is a lot of responsibility.”
“So is a house.” She kept her smile but was surprised by his extreme reaction. She’d always envisioned herself married with children. One child, at least. Though she’d certainly accept two if the twin gene came through.
“In case you haven’t noticed...” He rolled over and faced her, propping his own head in his hand. “I’m a stuck-in-his-ways bachelor. Kids are great. Families are great. For someone else.”
“That’s fair,” she said, meaning it. If she thought about it for longer than five seconds, she could admit she was a stuck-in-her-ways bachelorette. She liked her life the way it was, more now that she’d been shedding her more serious side in favor of cutting loose. She was enjoying the fun side Gavin had helped her uncover.
“But I surprised you.”
“A little, but only because you’re from a large family. Your brothers have settled into relationships one by one. I assume babies are forthcoming.”
“Now who’s assuming I’m like my brothers? You, of all people, should know better,” he teasingly scolded.
“Oh, no. I did do that.” She rolled onto her back and covered her face with both hands. When she peeked through her fingers, he was hovering over her, his handsome face taking up most of her vision. Which was fine with her, since he was lovely to look at. He tugged her hands from her face.
“I like what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. Do you?”
“I do. I really do.” She heard the unspoken but, and he must have, too. He raised his eyebrows and waited for her to continue. “Are you sure Saturday night’s party isn’t going to change who we are?” Their overly involved families would draw their own conclusions. Or worse, have unrealistic expectations.
“People can say or think whatever they want, but it doesn’t have to change what we do. Didn’t we learn that when we were making out on the b
oardwalk?”
“Touché.”
He leaned down and kissed her. As his mouth moved along hers, she wondered if he was right. Maybe their future didn’t have to look like anyone else’s. Maybe her own desire to expect more from him was a habit, rather than what she actually wanted.
He couldn’t have laid out what he wanted any clearer, but what he wanted included her. And wasn’t having him in her bed enough for the foreseeable future? She’d embraced her new spontaneous side to great success. Why ruin it by trying to exert expectations and control on a situation working out well for both of them?
It didn’t matter what their siblings said, or what the town said. What anybody said, really. What Hallie and Gavin were doing worked for them, and that’s what mattered.
His mouth moved from her neck to her breasts and continued a lazy path down her body. He had a way of making her forget about anything but the present, and as far as she was concerned, the present didn’t get any better than this.
Eighteen
The night of Mags Dumond’s Winter Party came fast.
Normally, Hallie would be preparing to segue every conversation to business, or to her twin sister. The idea of a spotlight on her was overwhelming, which might explain the case of nerves as well as her lack of appetite.
There would truly be nowhere for her to hide tonight. Once she and Gavin entered the party hand in hand, him dashing in his black tuxedo and her glowing like a red beacon, all eyes would be on them.
Since the night in her bed, when she and Gavin agreed they were fine, thank you very much, she’d convinced herself she didn’t care what anyone thought of their relationship. But her hard-won confidence had been gradually chipping away. While she showered this morning, dressed this afternoon and, now, as they crested the hill atop which sat Mags’s mansion.
She squeezed her hands together tightly as he revved the engine. They climbed the driveway in his shiny, outrageous Candied Apple red sports car. She shook her head helplessly. There was no way they’d blend in tonight.
As if he sensed her nerves, his hand landed on top of both of hers. “You’re going to do great.”
“Easy for you to say. You’re not stepping out like Cinderella at the ball.”
“From what I recall,” he said as he pulled up to the valet stand, “things turned out well for her at the end.”
She sent him an impatient glare, but he only grinned.
“Hals. We’ve been to Mags’s mansion a million times.”
True. Mags had thrown her own birthday parties, black-and-white balls, costume parties and dinner parties. Tonight’s shindig was an evening of cocktails and snacks with a band. Without rigid structure, there would be lots of mingling and free time, which might have been what worried Hallie the most. She didn’t mind talking shop or chatting up prospective clients, but she wasn’t comfortable when she was the topic.
“Maybe no one will notice me,” she said, hoping against hope she’d been overreacting.
“Sweetheart.” He unbuckled his seat belt and then hers, sliding a seductive gaze down her dress. “Everyone is going to notice you.”
Her stomach tightened and then fluttered. A perfect illustration of how he affected her. He both riled her up and put her at ease.
Her feelings for him had grown and matured from the crush she’d had on him before. Now he was a real, layered man who shared stories with her in bed at night and nuzzled her neck in the kitchen in the morning. He had doubts and hated failing. And even though he’d die before he’d admit it, she knew the idea of a future with her—with anyone—was less about him losing control and more about fearing what the future might bring. The thing was, she understood. Hell, she could relate. She wasn’t quite ready for forever and ever, amen, either.
Not that her heart had listened to a single of her head’s warnings. She fell a little more for him now, in spite of the lectures she’d given herself not to involve her heart in what they were doing.
Enough. No more overthinking tonight. She didn’t need the added pressure.
He placed his Stetson on his head and then they walked into Mags’s immaculate mansion overlooking the lake—a palace, really—and into a sea of well-dressed people. To Hallie’s relief, she spotted a few other red dresses. Although none of them sparkled or had a train, at least she wouldn’t be the only woman in red at the party.
Hannah, having recently returned home from France, approached in a pale pink dress. She grasped Hallie’s shoulders, holding her at arm’s length. “I knew it. I knew it. I knew you’d look scrumptious in this gown.”
Gavin, at Hallie’s side, shook his brother Will’s hand and accepted a kiss on the cheek from Hannah. She gave him a playful shove and said, “You lucky guy.”
“You don’t have to tell me twice.” He curled an arm around Hallie’s shoulders and pressed a kiss to her temple. Hannah and Will didn’t appear alarmed. Neither did the people milling around the party turn and gawp. Maybe Hallie had been overreacting.
“Champagne?” Hannah offered.
“Yes, please.” Hallie nodded, hoping the bubbles would settle her nervous stomach.
* * *
Gavin enjoyed hanging out with Hallie. And only partly because most of their dates ended with exquisite sex. The other night when she’d fallen asleep in his arms, he’d held her close and stared at the ceiling, feeling grateful for the time they’d had together. To think he once believed she’d hated him. They’d come a long way.
He’d issued the challenge tonight for one reason. She was in the habit of putting herself in second place. Of comparing herself with the women around her. Especially Hannah. Hannah didn’t try to take the spotlight; it was more like Hallie gave it to her.
He wanted Hallie to step into her own spotlight. To be noticed and revered for who she was, rather than who she was related to.
Some of that insight was thanks to his own past experiences. He’d been in the shadows of his three older brothers for a while, and at one point had felt separate from them. Especially when he’d gone to law school instead of into the music business. Sure, he’d parlayed his degree into a music-themed career, but at the time he might as well have been on a different planet from the rest of them.
Once he’d honed his skills and his calling, he’d carved a niche for himself and became wildly successful. Confidence had been a by-product. He wanted the same experience for Hallie. She deserved wild success, too, and the easy confidence that came with knowing she was in exactly the right place.
“Well, if it isn’t my beautiful granddaughters.” Eleanor Banks embraced Hallie and Hannah, showing no preferential treatment. To Gavin, she offered a lingering gaze he couldn’t read at all. “You and Hallie are getting on well.”
Since Hallie was standing very close to him, it would be ridiculous to try to pretend he didn’t know what Eleanor was talking about.
He slipped his arm around his date’s waist and squeezed her close. “She’s an incredible woman.”
Eleanor smiled. “You’re slow on the uptake, but I’ll give you credit for finally realizing it.”
“Gram,” Hallie scolded.
“What? I’ve always known how special my girls are.” With so much confidence ebbing off the Banks family matriarch, there was no way Hallie hadn’t inherited some of it.
“Boyfriends are overrated, but they do complement ball gowns nicely,” Eleanor added with a wink to Gavin. “Come on, girls, I want to introduce you around, and hopefully avoid that horrible Mags as long as possible.”
She ushered Hallie and Hannah away, and Gavin felt sweat prickle his brow beneath his hatband. Not at the mention of Mags—though she was far from his favorite person in this town—but at the word boyfriend.
“You need a refill?” Will asked. “Or a toilet? You look green.”
Gavin lifted his Stetson and swiped his forehead. “I’m fine.”
“This is new for you. Expect an adjustment period.”
“I am parched now that you mention it.” Gavin downed the few inches of booze at the bottom of his glass.
Will followed him to the bar, where they bumped into Cash and Presley and Luke and Cassandra, who had arrived as a foursome. Cassandra and Presley accepted flutes of champagne and took off in the direction where Hallie and Hannah and Eleanor had vanished. Gavin ordered another bourbon. He felt his brothers’ eyes on him as if he’d accidentally worn a tutu instead of a tux.
“What’s wrong with him?” Luke asked Will.
“Eleanor Banks referred to him as Hallie’s boyfriend.”
“Ah,” Luke and Cash said in tandem.
Gavin rolled his eyes. “Nothing’s wrong with me.”
“It’s weird, but you’ll get used to it,” Luke said. “And then you’ll be engaged.”
“Or married,” Will chimed in.
“That’s not—” Gavin blew out a breath and opted not to finish that sentence. He wouldn’t get far with these three hounding him. “Hallie’s great.”
“Being part of a couple carries weight,” Will said, not making Gavin feel any better. “You’re not used to it, is all. And her sister’s incredibly famous.”
“I told him that,” Cash said.
“You’re famous,” Gavin reminded Cash, his patience ebbing. “I’m used to you.”
“It’s different when you’re with a famous person,” Will said, piling on. “You’re going to have to set aside your inflated male ego. Wherever you are with her, she’ll draw more attention than you.”
“You speak from experience?” Gavin snapped.
“Yeah,” Will said simply.
“I want Hallie to be noticed. Why do you think I bought her that dress?” Gavin asked too loudly. He lowered his voice. “She’s a shark when it comes to business. It’s time she was recognized for how wonderful she is and not for her proximity to her famous twin sister.”
“Uh-oh,” Luke murmured. “Worse than we thought.”
Good Twin Gone Country Page 12
